Garment hanger and attachment therefor



Nov. 13, 1951 J. M. coFFlN GARMENT HANGER AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed March 26, 1948 gja fi rzM Coffin Patented Nov. 13, 1951 OFFICE 'GARMENT HANGER AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR John M. Collin, Silver Spring, Md. Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,207

4 Claims. (Cl. 22398) Myinvention consists in new and useful improvements in garment hangers and relates more particularly to an attachment for a conventional wire coat hanger or the like to facilitate the hanging of trousers or skirts on the cross bar of the hanger.

' When trousers or skirts are folded and hung over the cross bar of a conventional wire coat hanger, the cross bar invariably leaves a noticeable crease or indentation in the garment and although various efforts have been made to devise shields or protective coverings for such cross bars, none has been'particularly satisfactory. It is therefore the objectof my invention to provide a removable trousers or skirt hanging attachment which may be installed on any of the conventional wire coat hangers, said attachment preferably having a curved upper surface of sufficient transverse area to adequately support folded trousers or skirts without imparting thereto the objectionable creases.

.Another object of my invention is to provide a novel spring actuated retaining clip whereby the trousers or skirt supporting attachment may be-readilyv installed and removed from conventional coat hangers without requirin any alteration of the hanger.

. A still further object of the invention isto pro-- vide retaining clips at the longitudinal extremities of the trousers and skirt supporting member, so designed that aside from their function as locking elements, they render additional support to the shoulders and sleeves of a coat hung on the main portion of the garment hanger.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved attachment in place on the cross bar of aconventional wire coat hanger;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of one end of the structure shown in Figure Figure 3 is a similar view from the underside of the attachment with a portion shown in section to illustrate one method of securing the retaining clip in place;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in side elevation showing the retaining clip in locked position 2 in full lines, and in releasing position in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the attachment in the course of being removed from the hanger;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modified retaining clip structure; and

Figure 8 is a further modification of a method of mounting the clip on the body of the attachment.

In the drawings, It] represents a conventional wire coat hanger which, for the purpose of illustration, is of the type formed by bending a single piece of wire to form angular shoulder supporting elements I I, connected by a cross bar 12 and having a suspending hook l3 at the junction of the two shoulder supporting elements. My improved attachment comprises a trousers or skirt supporting member M which, in the form shown in Figures 1 to 6, comprises an elongated sheet of thin metal bent transversely to form a rounded garment-engaging upper face. The ends Ma of the sheet are preferably folded inwardly as shown in Figure 3 to avoid sharp edges and the longitudinal edges of the metal body [4 are preferably rolled inwardly from end to end to form hollow beads l5 adapted to receive the free ends I 6 of a bifurcated clip I! at each end of the body l4.

Each of the clips I! is formed of resilient wire bent upwardly at substantiall right angles from each of the legs I6, to form arms l8 which are bent inwardly at a more abrupt angle and converge to form a loop or notch H! at the junction of the two arms.

The underside of the metal body I4 is adapted to rest upon the cross bar l2 of the coat hanger I!) in parallel relation thereto and the spring clips l1 are adapted to be sprung into place under respective shoulder supporting elements I I, as shown in Figure 1, with the loops [9 embracing the elements l'l. These sprin clips, being normally under an. outward tension, retain the at tachment in place on the hanger by forcing it downwardly on the cross bar l2 and also preventing lateral displacement by means of the loop l9.

In order to remove the attachment, either one of the spring clips I1 is forced inwardly against its spring tension, to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, thus clearing the shoulder supporting element of the garment hanger and permitting the attachment to be rocked laterally into ignated by the numeral 20, serves: the dual function of a stop for positioning the clip in the at tachment l4 and also as an added protection to the garments.

It is to be understood that I do notintend to. confine myself to the use of sheet metal in the manufacture of the body 14. Obviously, this may be made of wood or plastic or any suitable material properly shaped to. serve the intended pur pose. Furthermore, I do not intend to confine myself to the particular method of attaching the spring clip to the body it. For example. in Figure. 8', I have shown a. modification wherein the sheetv metal body It, instead of being provided with a rolled edge or bead I5, is punched as. at 2| to accommodate. the free ends, of the bifurcated spring clips ll.

It will thusbe seen, that with my improved attachment, a conventional. wire garment hanger is conveniently adapted to serve both as a. coat hanger and as a. trousers or skirt hanger with a minimum of effort, and that the disadvantages heretofore noted are overcome. Furthermore, due to the flaring shape and angle of inclination of the spring clips H, atthe extremities of the assembly;'additional: support is afiorded to the sleeves and shoulders of a coat, thus avoiding the objection heretofore encountered with ordinary wirecoat hangers, wherein the abrupt bends at the extremities of the hangercause an unsightly bulge in the sleeve of a coat.

Itshould also be observed that spring engagement of the retaining clips llunder the shoulder supporting arms I l of the hanger acts to vertically reinforce the arms H, thus reducing the normal tendency of said arms to bend downwardly underthe weight of heavy coats.

From the foregoing it is believed that my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without fiirther description, it being borne in mind; that numerous changes may be. made, in the detail of structure without departing, from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claim.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a garmenthanger of the type comprising a wire, bent to form angular shoulder supporting arms connected by a cross bar and having a suspending hook, said 317152.611? ment comprising an elongated body member adapted to rest upon said cross bar in parallel relation, for supporting a pair of trousers or a skirt folded thereover. said body member having upwardly directed retaining elements at each of its longitudinal extremities for detachably engaging beneath respective shoulder supporting arms at points intermediate the extremities of the latter.

2. An attachment for a garment hanger of the type comprising a wire, bent to form angular shoulder Supporting arms connected by a cross bar and having a suspending hook, said attachment comprising an elongated body member adapted to rest upon said cross bar in parallel relation, said body member having a transversely curved upper surface for supporting a pair of trousers or a skirt, folded thereover, said body member having upwardly directed spring actuated retaining elements at each of its longitudinal extremities for detachably engaging beneath respective shoulder supporting arms at points intermediate the extremities of the latter.

3. An attachment for a garment hanger of the type comprising a wire, bent to. form angular shoulder supporting arms; connected by a cross bar and having av suspended hook, said attach-'- ment comprising an elongated body member adapted to enga e said cross bar in parallel rein" tion, said body member having a transverselycurved upper surface for submitting a pair of trousers or a skirt folded thereover, and retain-- ing elements at each of the longitudinal extremir ties of said body member, comprising resilient, bifurcated clips, the legs of which are secured to said body member, said clips being bent up wardly and inwardly to. underlie intermediate points on respective shoulder supporting arms in; tensional engagement. therewith- 4. An attachment for a. garment hanger of the. type comprising a wire bent to formangular: shoulder supporting arms connected by a cross bar and having a. suspending hook, said attaclh ment; comprising an elongated body member formed of a transversely and downwardly curved sheet of metal, adapted to overlie said cross. bar in parallel relation for supporting a pair of trousers or a skirt folded thereover, and retaining elements at each of the longitudinal extremities of said body member comprising resilient bifnrcated clips, the longitudinal edges of said body member being provided with, rolled; beads. adapted to receive respective legs of said bifurcated clips and to act as. reinforcing means for said body member, said bifurcated clips being bent up! wardly and inwardly from said legs to underlie said shoulder supporting arms in tensional en gagement therewith.

JOHN M.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 1,904,999 Reed Apr. 25, 193.3 1,987,174 Zetlin Jan. 8, 1935 2,456,014 Neaves "Dec. 14, 1948 

